An entire street of families fear they could be evicted after their landlord announced plans to start selling off their homes.

A handful of residents of Willow Close at Sulis Meadows in Odd Down received letters last week from landlord Grainger, which told them their tenancies would not be renewed and they had two months to move out.

All of Willow Close's 24 properties are owned by Grainger, which cited a change of strategy for the sale.

It is the UK's largest listed residential landlord, owning 14,000 properties in the UK plus another 7,000 in Germany.

It also manages a further 3,600 properties on behalf of other people.

Tim and Gemma Holden have lived at Willow Close with their two children, Lydia aged two and five-month-old Alice for five years, and said they were shocked by the notice to quit.

"I got a letter last Thursday saying the landlord was selling the properties, which is within their rights to do," said Mrs Holden, 27.

"Everyone who has received a letter so far has been given a range of notice periods, most of us seem to have to be out by the end of May.

"Some of us can up and go but others aren't in that position.

"At first I thought it was just us but people kept coming out of their houses and saying 'Have you got one of these letters?'"

The tenants have been told they can buy their houses if they wish, with prices put at between £150,000 and £160,000 but many say they are simply not in a position to purchase.

Mrs Holden is currently on maternity leave from her job at Bath Spa University.

She said: "We have got to find somewhere to go very quickly. Money is tight but we're just going to have to find something as soon as we can."

Mum of two Lisa Boni contacted Grainger after learning that her neighbours had been sent letters and also now been told she faces eviction.

The 27-year-old lives in her two-bedroom property with her partner Richard Brennen and their children Molly, who is three next month, and 18-month-old Finley.

She said: "We are really shocked and really worried because although we would like to live somewhere bigger, we wanted more time to be able to save money to move.

"My partner works as a driver and he has been working lots of overtime to bring some money in so we will be able to move.

"I know people always say you should have six months' savings but it doesn't work like that and we're not able to ask family because they're in the same boat.

"We have been told by Grainger we will have to leave from two months from the date of the letter. It is a lovely estate and we are really happy here, it is really great for the kids who have made lots of friends and our closest friends are our neighbours, it is a lovely community."

Her next door neighbour Paul Jubbie, who lives with his wife Monica and their 18 month old child Jamie, said they were not in a position to move.

He said: "When we first moved here we were both working but now we are full-time students with a child as well. As soon as we get our letter I will be straight down to the council to see how they can help us."

David Butler, Grainger's director of corporate affairs, said: "It is a normal sale, we are a property trading company and we have identified a number of houses for sale.

"We have given notice to five properties and I can't comment on what people may have been told in a phone call.

"As far as I am aware that isn't the case, we are certainly not selling the whole block in one go and it would not be a sensible strategy to put the whole block on the market at one point."